San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-07-13
WILL O. THE WlSP.
BY MISS AMELIA THRoPP.

Yes Will. l promise never to forget
you, never! and will marry you when | get
to be young lady"
Thank your replied Frank, smiling at
her earnestness. Good night"
As he was driving away he called back,
I'VE will never tell anyone about your being
lost in the swamp; remember it is to be o
secret between u.s.
"Oh, nor she replied; then FASTENED in
to the house, away up to her room, where
she carefully removed her sOiled clothing
After bathing, she carried her clothes to a
place where she herself could take them out
TO cleanse them TO avoid detection; then she
cTept into bed and did not awaken from her
slumber until late the next day.
Frank, after his encounter with Ethel,
drove slowly home, thinking over the strange
occurrence. Never, he thought had he seen
such beautiful creature. such an ingenious
face, well calculated to make lasting i'm
preston, it was so pure and so refined. The
singular encounter of that night never after
ward, in all his wanderings, was forgotten
by him.
Frank went 10 Germany, where ne re-
manned for four years, perfecting himself in
a course of studies, and seeing much of life
and the beauties of the Old World. But he
never forgot the pretty brown-eyed maiden
of SHADOW Grove" who was destined to be
his bride.
The sun shOne brightly into the room the
next morning when Ethel awOke. With the
exception of slight stiffness of the limbs she
was not the worse for her adventure; but she
was now effectually cured of all romantic
visions. The scales had been rudely re-
moved from her eyes. She vowed never to
be deIuded again, and never afterwards
treasured any romantic ideas, except one
connected with the handsome knight who
had been her deiverer.
She went to the city of p, and re-
manned there for four years, returning after
a course of studies very elegant and ac-
cOmpiiShed lady. She had tried to ascertain
the name and residence of her handsome
knight in vain. There was no acquaintance
between Mr.. MOOre's family and the Scots,
and besides there were 50 many strangers
during the summer coming and going to the
clearinghouse that it was not possible to
keep track of them. When size returned to
meadow Grove" at first she mingled in the
society of the neighbOrhOOd, and more than
one aspiring country lad solicited her hand
but they soon found culture had placed her
beyond them, as education in those days had
not become so general as now in the rural
neighbOrhOOd. She found the society around
her uncOngenial and gradually withdrew
from it, mourning in return their envy and
dislike.
Frank Chester, after his return from
abroad, had settled down in the city of P
in business with his father. Daring the
heated summer months he determined to
rusticatc once more at Mr.. SCOTS farm and
to meet Ethel again if possible, who had
never been forgotten by him. Soon after
his arrival one pleasant Sabbath afternoon
he resolved to visit Meadow Grove" alIeg-
ing as an excuse that he wished to get Mr..
MOOre's ideas about farming and the value
of land i'm the neighbOrhOod, as he desired
to make some purchases in the locality. He
was determined not to make himself known
to Ethel but was anxious to see if she re-
membered him.
1t was the calm of a summer Sabbath. The
lawn in front of Mr.. MOOre'S residence
blOssOmed like a rose. Frank was impressed
by its beauty as he entered the gate and
passed up the broad walk which led to the
house, where were seated Mr. and Mrs.
Moore and their treasure. How beautiful
she looked in her snowy robes, which float
ed around her lovely form like tleecy cloud.
Franks heart thrObbed violently as she
raised her large, sOtt-lOOking brown eyes
towards him. The face which he had
thought so beautiful in the moonlight was
lOvelier, if possible now than before. The
well-shaped head was covered with glossy
curls, through which wound a garland of
pink rOse-buds and a cluster of the same
was fastened at the snowy throat. Ethel
dropped her eyes in confusion at the eager
gaze of admiration of the handsome stran-
ger, who, recovering his self-pOSsessiOn, made
some polite excuses to Mr.. Moore for his
visit, and was formally introduced to Ethel.
After this his visits became frequent to
Meadow Grove" Ethel was delighted
with the intelligent and gentlemanly stran-
ger. There was something in his face which
caused her to regard him with surprise, for
she was confident that she had met him be-
fore, yet could not tell where o: remember
when. His good name and standing being
carefully investigated by Mr.. Moore, and,
being quite satisfactory, he was now a well
come guest at the farm.
He and Ethel walked drove, read, and
were so constantly together that the society
of one became indispensable to the other.
He carefully concealed the mystery about
the xviii O. the Wisp," determining that she
herself should remember it before he dis
closed it to her.
In such constant COmpaniOnShip with one
so attractive as Frank, it was not surprising
that Ethel should soon find herself hopeless
ly in love with him. This knowledge caused
her great pain, for in her heart she had re-
solved to marry no one until the knight who
had rescued her from death in the swamp
should come back, as he had promised, and
claim or release her. Now, false-hearted
one, she had given her love to another.
One lovely midsummer night Frank pro-
posed a walk on the highway near the mea-
dow. They sauntered slowly along; the
moon shOne calmly down on field and brook.
The whip-pOOr-will sang softly near the
stream, whilst the mist with its filmy drap-
cry floated over the meadow, with its glim-
mering star glittering as a decOy. Frank
stopped and leaned against the fence
what a scenep' he said; lit is and ever
will be indescribably dear to me. 1 shall
soon be obliged to return to P, but l
never can forget it or you, Ethelp' he con-
tinued. you must have become aware ere
this of my love for you; may hope that 1
have not loved in vain?'
She leaned her head down against the bar
for a moment in silence, whilst her heart
beat violently. She felt that she must refuse
him, yet the effort she must make seemed
impossible to her. At last, reluctantly, she
said, Il love you dearly, but my promise is
given to another, and l cannot break my
word. have been false to him, migrate that
am, for he was my deliverer. He saved
my llfe."
Where? and whenT' exclaimed Frank,
excitedly.
"rhereP' she said. raising her head and
pointing to the meadow; "at that very spot,